Page 13 of Crossing Lines

“She’s in a relationship?” Mama G repeats, giving me a scolding look.

Falcon laughs while shaking his head. “Mr. Steal your girl.”

“Son, don’t you put yourself in no mess,” Mama G warns. “You know better.”

“Yes, ma’am, and I wasn’t trying to make a move on Davia,” I defend myself. “We were only talking. She’s a cool chick. We could be friends.”

“Men and women can’t be friends,” Falcon argues with a full mouth. “They always end up smashing.”

“Geez, Falc,” Mama G groans at her only living son.

“It’s true, Mama. I never had a female friend I didn’t smash. And if she said we didn’t, shelied.” His dirty laugh makes us sigh in discomfort.

“That’s cause you’re a ho, Uncle,” Cairo rasps. “Everyone in our neighborhood knows about you. I have female friends. Nothing’s happened with them.”

“Nothing yet,” Falcon counters. “Cause you still hung up on that girl.”

Silence follows the comment, and we stare at Cairo as he mean-mugs his uncle. That’s still a sore spot. Understandably, he doesn’t want to mention an ex he loved who took off without an explanation, only to hear she’s with someone new a week later.

Jaw clenching, he dips his head to his plate and pushes around the food.

Mama G harrumphs. “All right, enough of that.”

“Did I lie?” Falcon whispers, resulting in a warning huff from his mom. “Okay. My bad.”

For Cairo’s sake, I switch the subject back to the club. After all, I know how hard it is to forget a woman who left her mark on you, even after only seeing her twice.

FIVE

Jamir doesn’t bother exiting his Range Rover to open the door for me. While it may not be major, I add it to the list of things annoying me lately.

“Hey, babe.” He leans over for a kiss, but I swiftly dodge it. “Don’t do me like that. Sorry we didn’t chill last night. I came to have dinner with your fam, though.”

“At least,” I grumble, buckling my seatbelt.

“Baby, please. Let’s enjoy the evening, all right?”

“Fine. Go.”

Sucking his teeth, he mumbles under his breath and peels off from my apartment complex. We arrive at my childhood home in minutes. Aunt Zandie, Uncle Mac, and Trishell are already here. My cousin Colin, his big sister Shanae, and Uncle Quest show up behind us. I catch Shanae throwing me weird looks, but I ignore her ass.

At my grandma’s call, we settle at the lengthy dining table to feast on her soul food.

“So, what are the stops on the cruise?” Colin asks, looking more like Uncle Quest with his full beard.

Grandpa swallows to answer. “The Bahamas first, St. Thomas, St. Kitts & Nevis, and then back to Miami.”

“We won’t head home right away,” Grandma adds, all giggly. I’ve always loved that they sit alongside each other instead of opposite ends. “Staying with friends for a few days before returning to Baltimore.”

“Good for y’all,” Uncle Mac cheers. “Z and I could use a vacation.”

Aunt Zandie nods with her husband. “We haven’t gone on one in a while. We need it, with how much we work.”

“Can I tag along?” Trishell jokes, making her parents huff at her. “You won’t know I’m there.”

“Child, bye,” Aunt Zandie chuckles.

Shanae’s loud huff disrupts the laughter. “How wasKrossfire, D? Saw you talking to the owner.”

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